Camaraderie!

What a great day! EARLY yesterday morning walkers and runners gathered at Rockefeller State Park in Tarrytown - our first Saturday morning get-together. Truth be told, we were all together for a photo shoot for future Team in Training materials, yet I could feel the sense of purpose... Quite frankly, I'd be out walking at 7 am... but most folks don't walk or run that early and it was a trek for almost all of us to get there... and we did it! It was awesome to be surrounded by so many people dedicated to the same cause!

Before beginning our day Ferrel, one of the walk coaches, read the Mission Moment, focusing us on our true purpose. As always, I teared up, because hearing what patients are living through each and every week keeps me focused and dedicated to getting out the word about the Society.

We stretched, trading laughs and a few groans, and then started on our way... We walked 6 miles, enjoying the beautiful landscape, the weather and eachother's company. What a terrific start to the day!


PS: On the way home we stopped at the Farmer's market in Tarrytown. Walking out of the market I spotted another TNT-er (the shirt was a dead giveaway!)... and though I didn't know her I approached her and introduced myself-because the cause creates the immediate introduction. As it turns out Amy will be running the NIKE marathon - the one I will be racewalking! Too cool - camaraderie!

A tasting - of sports drinks!

What a beautiful day!

We gathered at 7:30 am at Pepsico and while the plan was to stretch, listen to the Mission Moment, and get on our way... the 6 miles for the half marathoners and 10 miles for those of us doing the full marathon, would have precluded our planned "tasting." So, we started by breaking out the drinks and granola, and sampling over a half dozen drinks... Not only was it fun, it was educational... We all discovered what we liked - and didn't!

Following our tasting we set off, completed our miles in good time, and with good cheer!

People's Spontaneous Generosity Surprises and Delights Me!

Yesterday late morning, I pounded the pavement in Nyack to collect donations for our August 9th silent auction...

As I walked down Main Street to call on a donor I couldn't resist taking this photo at the water's edge. I feel so lucky - supporting a great cause, connecting with generous folks, and having time to smell the roses/take photos.

9 Miles!

What an amazing morning! The fog near the Tappan Zee bridge yesterday morning at 7:15 was beautiful! Driving up 9W to Rockland Lake was lovely as always, with great views of the Hudson River... and then entering Rockland Lake park was like entering another world. You can see just a wee bit of the mist in my photo of the young deer that I encountered at the entrance to the park. Making my way to my buddies - in the same parking lot! - was an adventure -> I had to use my phone to discover where they were - as I couldn't see more than 75 feet in front of me!


Happily we all found eachother - after a few fits and starts - did our stretches, and posed for a photo. Yesterday Elicia, Julia, Ferrel, Ily, Harriet, Cara, Vernessa and I started our walk with silent reflection upon our purpose in walking. It was a different, sobering, and meaningful beginning to our training. Truth be told, just over half a mile into the walk we broke into conversation, yet it was directed toward our mission, as we shared our reasons for walking, our fundraising challenges, and our wonderful stories of people's generosity.


The day brightened - as you can see from the last photo (do you see the man in boat in the center of the photo?) and it was just a magnificent day and experience... working out together, encouraging eachother and meeting our training goals for the day. Ily and Vernessa met their walking goals early in the day -> they are preparing for half marathons; and, two and a half hours after our start, Elicia, Julia (both preparing for full marathons), Cara and I finished up in the parking lot with stretches and homemade granola (a recipe that I am happy to share!).

What a great way to start the day!

Gettin' in my miles... a different way!

Whew! I’ve been compensating heavily for my less than rigorous walk schedule (of the past two weeks) by finding fabulous places to train in and around the gorgeous red rocks of Sedona and the Grand Canyon! The hours walking have passed blissfully - okay that’s an exaggeration because it was 105 when we were in the Grand Canyon - yet they have been wonderful. And, I must say that we quaffed our thirsts with terrific local libations and enjoyed great appetizers at the El Tovar Lodge... which gave us the energy to stay in the canyon past sunset, as you can see. Everywhere you look the views are breathtaking - and we just keep walking to discover more beauty.

Next week it’s back to adding more miles on a regular basis, planning our Silent Auction for August 9th at Casa del Sol in Nyack, and following up with thanks to those who have donated $ to the cause, and/or items for the auction.

Next Sunday I hope to meet all the walkers for this season and touch base - in person - with my mentees. I can’t wait!

Walking with my NY Walkers Club buddies

It was a dark and stormy night... No, no, no!

It was a cool and rainy morning as we gathered on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge. We were united in our desire:
☞ for a jaunt across the bridge - taking in the beautiful, if cloudy and grey skylines, the Promenade, several lovely neighborhoods, and
☞ for cheesecake at Juniors!

Now, this is the way to train! But seriously, we walked for almost an hour and a half, saw new and different venues... And, I felt good about keeping up with my training for the NIKE Women's Marathon. I wore my purple singlet from the Mayor's Midnight Marathon (Alaska last year) - it's always a conversation starter.

If you're interested in watching my progress in raising awareness and fundraising, please visit me at http://pages.teamintraining.org/wch/nikesf09/jgreenbaum

What a workout!

A beautiful Sunday called for a hike in the nearby NJ county park. My walking partner, Eunice, walked at a good clip and we moved quickly and steadily past the lush trees, bushes, flowers, fishers and dogs, up the path to a beautiful lake.

After resting for a few minutes at the edge of the lake, watching the dogs swim after balls and children totter near the edge of the water, we pressed on up the trail. This is the same trail where I saw a rather large and unusual snake last year with my friend Charlotte... and we were not disappointed! Eunice grabbed my arm to prevent me from stepping on this adorable little garter snake. It slithered away and we continued - enjoying the cover of the branches and enduring the hills. I thought about the hills to be conquered - well, maybe suffered - in San Francisco in October, and made a mental note to do this trail again soon.

It was a wonderful way to start the day - spending time with a friend and preparing myself for the hills in my future/ training for a great cause.

Know of a great trail in the metropolitan area? Let me know!

This is why we walk...

Just over a week ago we kicked off our awareness, fundraising and training campaigns. I have to admit that I am so immersed in Team in Training that I sometimes speak in shorthand... which inevitably leads to confusion.

So here's the story, in brief: I'm training to participate in an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I wanted to share Elena's picture and story with you - to give you a sense of why we devote our time and energy... to fund cures.

This year I am completing the NIKE Women's Marathon in honor of Elena and everyone who is battling blood cancers. Last year, for the marathon in Anchorage I wrote the names of survivors and those who have passed from one of the blood cancers on ribbons and attached them to my singlet. I will be doing the same this year. If you there's someone in your life you would like me to honor, please write to me at jillgcoach@optonline.net. If you would like to contribute to my fundraising campaign, please visit my page at, http://pages.teamintraining.org/wch/nikesf09/jgreenbaum.

Gearing up!

On Thursday night we met at the Bronxville Running Company - a really nice store with lots of goodies to explore. We exchanged essential info with new teammates - like half or whole marathon, Hamptons or NIKE - learned a few new facts about shoes, socks, and inner soles, and had a wee bit of a snack :) And, of course, we did our share of buying new and critically important gear! A good time was had by all... as you can see here!

Gearing up - in all senses of the phrase - is such fun!

Reconnaissance... for the marathon walkers of TNT

The call came... and I accepted.

We met at Rockefeller State Park to discover whether the setting was a good site for future Team in Training walks. Ferrel, Luciana, and I started the rather steep climb to the walking path and immediately became enveloped in the greenery. It was a spring wonderland... sunshine peeking through the trees, beautiful shades of green, a sense of quiet - almost a stillness.

We walked over hill and dale, encountering a few walkers, and many cows! The cows were absolutely adorable and moved toward us - though you can see the calf was wary... hoping for food, though we had none to share. We walked over 4 miles this morning and agreed that it was a charming walk...perhaps to be tackled midway through training, as the trail provided some nice hills.

Mission accomplished we headed home... all of us excited to be starting the new season.